We came onto this lunge-feeding humpback right out the gate. Within 20-minutes of leaving the harbor, we were in the Moss Landing Whale Park and the feeding frenzy was on. Photo: Michael Sack, 08-31-2014.

As has been the case since March, Moss Landing was the hotspot on The Monterey Bay again today with a serious humpback whale vertical lunge feeding frenzy.

The vertical lunge-feeding continues. There were areas of the water that were purplish in color. That’s where the anchovies were. That’s also where the birds were working. Mainly the terns and brown pelicans. Then the sea lions would emerge in large numbers. Followed by the surface lunge-feeding humpback whales. Photo: Michael Sack. 08-31-2014.

We also had excellent bow-riding common dolphins. An incredible day just outside the Moss Landing Harbor.

We came upon a nice pod of common dolphin. They like to ride our wake. Photo: Michael Sack, 08-31-2014.

More common dolphins feeding on the anchovies. Photo: Michael Sack, 08-31-2014.

In fact, over the last couple of days, we’ve seen humpbacks breaching at the Moss Landing Harbor-mouth. I’m talking within 50-yards of the north Jetty.

More lunge-feeding madness. These animals are here to do one thing: Feed.

These humpbacks are here in front of Moss Landing to feed. I mean seriously. Photo: Michael Sack. 08-31-2014.

Packing on the blubber layers for when they head south to the breeding grounds of Southern Mexico. There’s not a lot of food down there for them. So they need to rely on the thick blubber layer they build up here on the Monterey Bay. They can go for 3-4 months without eating. Photo: Michael Sack. 08-31-2014.